Pete Goss companies closed

The Pete Goss companies, Goss Composites and Goss Challenges, the companies set-up to build and promote the Team Phillips catamaran challenger for The Race, have gone into voluntary liquidation.

All 40 staff at the two companies, based in Totnes, Devon are being made redundant. The popular visitor centre with its interactive suite and cafeteria have been closed.

This will be a further blow to the Foot & Mouth affected area - visitor numbers to the centre had already been reduced by the crisis.

The revolutionary design of Team Phillips ran into trouble from the start, with damaged hulls, and Pete Goss and his crew were later forced to abandon the catamaran on a final trial sail when the control pod was damaged and the £4.5 million craft sank.

Pete Goss said: "To see such a wonderful team of people who have stayed true to one another through thick and thin disbanded is one of great distress. Whilst the last four years of effort have brought much heartache, they have also been very special in creating and giving so much to so many. We wish each other fair winds and thank all those that helped, supported and followed the project."

"To see it all end in this manner seems particularly unfair for the staff and creditors but it has become apparent that there is nothing we can do."

Goss Innovations and Goss Interactive, are still running, but not with direct involvement of Pete Goss.